Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 25 year-old Pedro Quinones of 47 Lester Street, Buffalo, pleaded guilty, as charged, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree before Acting State Supreme Court Justice John Michalski. These are the highest charges for which Quinones could have been convicted had he gone to trial.

Quinones, who has five prior misdemeanor convictions (ranging from drug possession to driving without a license to criminal possession of stolen property), had several recent arrests leading to this conviction. On March 23, 2013 the Buffalo Police Department Narcotics executed a search warrant at Quinones’ residence and found him in possession of over a half ounce of heroin; Quinones was released on $2,500 bail by the presiding Buffalo City Court Judge. On April 9, 2013, the Narcotics Squad again raided Quinones’ residence and again charged him with drug possession; the presiding Buffalo City Court Judge released him on $5,000 bail. On May 15, 2013, the Narcotics Squad again raided Quinones’ residence and charged him with drug possession; the presiding Buffalo City Court Judge released him on $2500 bail.

On June 7, 2013, Buffalo Police officers observed Quinones taking part in what appeared to be a hand-to-hand drug sale on 14th Street in the City of Buffalo. Further investigation revealed that Quinones had over a half ounce of heroin in his possession. Quinones admitted to the officers that the heroin was his but claimed it was a “shitty cut.” The presiding Buffalo City Court Judge released Quinones on $10,000 bail.

The case was successfully prosecuted by ADA Brian Langenfeld. Quinones faces a maximum of 18 years in prison when he is sentenced by Justice Michalski on November 14, 2013.